Best Dutch Ovens

We tested 17 colorful cast-iron casseroles to find the top pots

MichelleB by Fagor 5-Quart Soup Pot With Glass Lid ($70, amazon.com). If you find it daunting to wield a huge cast-iron pot, consider this six-pounder (that's less than half the heft of most traditional casseroles). Also practical are its stay-cool silicone handles. The only drawback here: the smallish surface area for browning. Comes in red and lemon-lime, too.

Best All-Around

Mario Batali by Dansk Classic Enameled Cast Iron 6-Quart Dutch Oven ($245, amazon.com). They'll think you're a master chef, thanks to how beautifully this round pot browns ingredients and reduces sauces. Be prepared to work for it, though  this one tips the scales at 15.5 pounds. Choose the chef's trademark persimmon, cobalt,or Chianti. Bonus: a booklet of Batali's recipes.

Great Value

Wolfgang Puck Cast Iron 7-Quart Dutch Oven ($80). Have a family of meat eaters? You'll love this generously sized, reasonably priced enamel casserole. Its oval shape perfectly accommodates a beef roast, pork loin, or whole chicken. But when you stir, you'll get a workout from lifting the five-pound lid.

How We Tested

We heated 34 tablespoons of flour and 17 teaspoons of vegetable shortening to check for even browning. Next, we cooked 272 cubes of beef, looking for steady simmering and succulent results. At cleanup, we noted whether pots stained--or chipped when clunked against the side of the sink.

Good Housekeeping already has an account with this email address. Link your account to use Facebook to sign in to Good Housekeeping. To insure we protect your account, please fill in your password below.

Your information has been saved and an account has been created for you giving you full access to everything goodhousekeeping.com and Hearst Digital Media Network have to offer. To change your username and/or password or complete your profile, click here.